Boot accessorizing system and method thereof

ABSTRACT

A boot accessorizing system including a boot insert, wherein the boot insert includes a leg portion having a top and a bottom, a stirrup operationally attached to the bottom of the leg portion, and a sleeve operationally attached to the top of the leg portion, wherein the sleeve is adapted to be folded over to form a cuff to engage a top of a boot. A method of accessorizing a boot may include providing a boot accessorizing system and accessorizing the sleeve of the boot insert with one or more accessories. The method may further include inserting a user&#39;s foot into the boot insert, inserting the user&#39;s foot with boot insert thereon into a boot, and folding the sleeve over the top of the boot.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to and incorporates herein by reference related U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/400,266, entitled “Boot Accessorizing System and Method Thereof” filed on Sep. 27, 2016; and 62/399,796, entitled “Boot Accessorizing System and Method Thereof” filed on Sep. 26, 2016.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosed subject matter relates generally to a boot accessorizing system and method of use thereof.

BACKGROUND

Individuals may own, or desire to own, many pairs of boots for matching many different outfits or for wearing at different occasions. Unfortunately, purchasing and owning many pairs of boots can be expensive. Further, owning many pairs of boots requires sizable space for storage and/or displaying. Additionally, when traveling, individuals are faced with the choice of packing a limited selection of boots or carrying additional luggage for holding a larger selection of boots.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, the boot accessorizing system includes a boot insert, wherein the boot insert may include a leg portion having a top and a bottom, a stirrup operationally attached to the bottom of the leg portion, and a sleeve operationally attached to the top of the leg portion, wherein the sleeve is adapted to be folded over to form a cuff to engage a top of a boot. The sleeve may further include at least one fastener attached thereto. The fastener may include a snap fastener. The boot accessorizing system may further include an assortment of fastenable accessories having a complementary fastener (e.g., snap) attached to a back thereof and adapted to engage with the at least one fastener of the sleeve. The fastenable accessories may include one or more of a jewelry item, logo, patch, and monogram. The sleeve may further include a design including one or more of a pattern, one or more letters, one or more words, and/or a logo. The sleeve may further include an expandable joint along a seam along a back portion of the sleeve. The expandable joint may include an elastic joint. The leg portion may include a formfitting wearable material. The formfitting wearable material may include one or more of lightweight lycra spandex fabric, cotton lycra fabric, and/or lycra stretch fabric. The stirrup may include a flexible or expandable strap and is preferably configured to engage around a bottom of a wearer's foot. The sleeve may include a material including one or more of leather, fur, faux leather, faux fur, and/or other suitable durable material. The boot accessorizing system may further include an assortment of pin on accessories adapted to be pinned directly onto the sleeve. The assortment of pin on accessories may include one or more of a jewelry item, logo, patch, and/or monogram.

In another embodiment, a method of accessorizing a boot, may include providing a boot accessorizing system, including a boot insert, wherein the boot insert may include a leg portion having a top and a bottom, a stirrup operationally attached to the bottom of the leg portion, and a sleeve operationally attached to the top of the leg portion, wherein the sleeve is adapted to be folded over to form a cuff to engage a top of a boot. The method may further include accessorizing the sleeve of the boot insert with one or more accessories. The method may further include inserting a user's foot into the boot insert, inserting the user's foot with boot insert thereon into a boot, and folding the sleeve over the top of the boot.

Certain aspects of the subject matter of the invention having been stated hereinabove, which are addressed in whole or in part by the disclosed subject matter, other aspects will become evident as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying Examples and Drawings as best described herein below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Having thus described the subject matter of the invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying Drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate perspective views of the boot accessorizing system of the invention that includes both a boot insert, or gaiter, and an assortment of snap on and pin on accessories;

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate perspective views of the boot accessorizing system that includes both the boot (sleeve) insert and an assortment of boot sleeve accessories;

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the boot insert of the boot accessorizing system;

FIG. 4, FIG. 5, FIG. 6, FIG. 7, FIG. 8, and FIG. 9 illustrate a front view, a back view, a right side view, a left side view, a top view, and a bottom view, respectively, of the boot insert of the boot accessorizing system;

FIGS. 10A-10G show various configurations of the boot accessorizing system;

FIG. 10H illustrates the boot sleeve of the boot insert in a flipped up configuration and in a flipped down configuration; and

FIG. 11 shows a process of using the boot accessorizing system to accessorize a boot.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The subject matter of the invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying Drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the disclosed subject matter are shown. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. The disclosed subject matter may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Indeed, many modifications and other embodiments of the disclosed subject matter set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which the disclosed subject matter pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated Drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the disclosed subject matter is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

In some embodiments, the subject matter of the invention provides a boot accessorizing system and method. The boot accessorizing system includes a boot insert, also referred to herein as a “gaiter” or “sleeve,” and a collection of replaceable accessories, such as, but not limited to, snap on accessories, pin on accessories, and/or boot sleeve accessories. In some embodiments, the boot accessory system may not include snap on or pin on accessories, as some sleeves may include a design only, wherein the design can be selected from any one or more of a pattern, one or more letters, one or more words, and/or a logo.

In one embodiment, an upper sleeve portion of the boot insert is designed to receive the replaceable accessories. In use, the upper portion of the sleeve is pulled and extended all the way up the calf of the leg of the user, and then folded over a top portion of the boot to form a cuff to engage the boot. The fasteners and or pattern may be attached to the folded over portion of the upper sleeve. Accordingly, when the sleeve is constructed, the fasteners and or pattern will be constructed on a top portion of the inside of the sleeve and exposed once the top of the sleeve is folded over to engage the boot.

The boot accessorizing system is preferably designed to be used with an existing boot to change the appearance of the boot by adding various types of snap on, pin on, and/or boot sleeve accessories. In some embodiments, the boot insert sleeves may include design such as patterns, one or more letters, one or more words, and/or a logo with or without the at least one snap fastener. The boot accessorizing system may support designs for women's boots, men's boots, and/or children's boots. Namely, the boot insert and accessories may be designed for any boot style, design, and/or color, and allow a user to create a variety of boot designs and/or appearances from a single pair of boots.

In the boot accessorizing system, the user installs any type of replaceable accessories (e.g., snap on, pin on, and/or boot sleeve accessories) on the boot insert. Then, the user slips his/her foot into the accessorized boot insert. Then, while wearing the accessorized boot insert, the user slips his/her foot into the existing boot. In so doing, the accessorized upper sleeve portion of the boot insert is folded over to form a cuff which then mates with top rim of the existing boot and the design and/or appearance of the existing boot is changed. Alternatively, the user may install the accessory (e.g., snap on, pin on, and/or boot sleeve accessories), on the boot insert after the user has slipped his/her foot into the boot and folded the upper sleeve portion of the boot insert over the top rim of the existing boot.

Referring now to FIGS. 1A and 1B, which are perspective views of the boot accessorizing system 100 that includes both a boot insert 105 and an assortment of snap on accessories 120 and pin on accessories 122. The boot insert 105 includes a leg portion 110 for fitting around the user's leg, wherein the leg portion 110 has a top and a bottom, a stirrup 112 for fitting around the user's foot, wherein the stirrup is operationally attached to the bottom of the leg portion of the boot insert, and a sleeve 114, which once folded over, makes a cuff 114 for engaging with the top of a boot, wherein the sleeve is operationally attached to the top of the leg portion of the boot insert (see FIGS. 10A-10H and FIG. 11). Further, an expandable joint 116 (e.g., elastic joint) may be provided along a seam along the back of the sleeve 114. Further, in some embodiments, at least one snap fastener 118 may be provided on the front, back, and/or sides of the sleeve 114 once folded over to engage the boot, which, in essence, changes the appearance of any existing boot.

The leg portion 110 of the boot insert 105 may be formed of any formfitting wearable material, such as, but not limited to, lightweight lycra spandex fabric, e.g., a polyester-polyurethane copolymer, such as elastane, cotton lycra fabric, lycra stretch fabric, and the like. The stirrup 112 of the boot insert 105 may be formed, for example, of an elastic strap (but is not limited to elastic). The sleeve 114 of the boot insert 105 may be formed of a number of different materials, such as, but not limited to, leather, fur, faux leather, faux fur, and/or other durable fabrics.

Snap on accessories 120 can include any design or type of accessory. A complementary snap fastener (not shown) is provided on the back of each accessory 120 that can couple to the snap fastener 118 of the boot insert 105. Additionally, an assortment of pin on accessories 122 may be provided, wherein the pin on accessories 122 can be pinned directly to the fabric forming the sleeve 114. The snap on accessories 120 and pin on accessories 122 may be, for example, jewelry items, logos, patches, monograms, and the like.

Referring now to FIGS. 2A and 2B, which are perspective views of the boot accessorizing system 100 that includes both the boot insert 105 and an assortment of boot sleeve accessories 130. The boot sleeve accessories 130 are preferably designed to be fitted around (or partially around) the sleeve 114 (once folded over to make cuff 114) of the boot insert 105, wherein the boot sleeve accessories 130 may be any pattern and/or design thereon. Using the snap on accessories 120, the pin on accessories 122, and the boot sleeve accessories 130 a user may change the look of his/her boot for any occasion or application.

Referring now to FIG. 3, which is a perspective view of the boot insert 105 of the boot accessorizing system 100. Further, FIG. 4, FIG. 5, FIG. 6, FIG. 7, FIG. 8, and FIG. 9 show a front view, a back view, a right side view, a left side view, a top view, and a bottom view, respectively, of the boot insert 105 of the boot accessorizing system 100.

Referring now to FIGS. 10A-10G, which are various configurations of the boot accessorizing system 100. FIG. 10 shows various examples of the boot insert 105 with snap on accessories 120 and/or boot sleeve accessories 130, which may include, but are not limited to, FIG. 10A showing a leather boot sleeve accessory 130 with monograming; FIG. 10B showing a fur boot sleeve accessory 130; FIGS. 10C and 10D showing a boot sleeve 114 with a collegiate or professional sports team snap on accessory 120 or pin on accessory 122; FIG. 10E showing a faux leather animal print boot sleeve accessory 130; FIG. 10F showing a faux leather boot sleeve accessory 130 with a holiday themed pattern (the holiday themed pattern could be a snap on accessory 120 or pin on accessory 122); FIG. 10G showing a faux leather boot sleeve accessory 130 with a patterned design. It is appreciated that there are numerous snap on accessories 120, pin on accessories 122, and boot sleeve accessories 130 that may be used individually and/or in combination with one another to accessorize boot 150. FIG. 10H shows the boot insert 105 in relation of a boot, such as a boot 150. The sleeve 114 of the boot insert 105 can be flipped up (or turned inside out) when slipping the boot insert 105 into, for example, the boot 150. Then, the sleeve 114 is flipped down around the upper rim of the boot 150 after insertion.

Referring now to FIG. 11 is a process 200 of using the boot accessorizing system 100 to accessorize a boot. For example, in a step 210, the boot insert 105 for accessorizing boot 150 is provided. In a step 220, the boot insert 105 is accessorized with the snap on accessories 120, the pin on accessories 122, and/or the boot sleeve accessories 130. In a step 230, the user slips his/her foot into the boot insert 105 such that the stirrup 112 is fitted around the user's foot and the leg portion 110 is fitted around the user's calf. In a step 240, the user slips his/her foot/leg (while wearing the boot insert 105) into the boot 150. In a step 250, the user positions the sleeve 114 over and around (by folding over the sleeve) the upper rim of the boot 150. In another example, the boot insert 105 is accessorized after (rather than before) the user puts on the boot insert 105 and puts on the boot 150.

Following long-standing patent law convention, the terms “a,” “an,” and “the” refer to “one or more” when used in this application, including the claims. Thus, for example, reference to “a subject” includes a plurality of subjects, unless the context clearly is to the contrary (e.g., a plurality of subjects), and so forth.

Throughout this specification and the claims, the terms “comprise,” “comprises,” and “comprising” are used in a non-exclusive sense, except where the context requires otherwise. Likewise, the term “include” and its grammatical variants are intended to be non-limiting, such that recitation of items in a list is not to the exclusion of other like items that can be substituted or added to the listed items.

For the purposes of this specification and appended claims, unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing amounts, sizes, dimensions, proportions, shapes, formulations, parameters, percentages, quantities, characteristics, and other numerical values used in the specification and claims, are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about” even though the term “about” may not expressly appear with the value, amount or range. Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the following specification and attached claims are not and need not be exact, but may be approximate and/or larger or smaller as desired, reflecting tolerances, conversion factors, rounding off, measurement error and the like, and other factors known to those of skill in the art depending on the desired properties sought to be obtained by the disclosed subject matter. For example, the term “about,” when referring to a value can be meant to encompass variations of, in some embodiments, ±100% in some embodiments ±50%, in some embodiments ±20%, in some embodiments ±10%, in some embodiments ±5%, in some embodiments ±1%, in some embodiments ±0.5%, and in some embodiments ±0.1% from the specified amount, as such variations are appropriate to perform the disclosed methods or employ the disclosed compositions.

Further, the term “about” when used in connection with one or more numbers or numerical ranges, should be understood to refer to all such numbers, including all numbers in a range and modifies that range by extending the boundaries above and below the numerical values set forth. The recitation of numerical ranges by endpoints includes all numbers, e.g., whole integers, including fractions thereof, subsumed within that range (for example, the recitation of 1 to 5 includes 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, as well as fractions thereof, e.g., 1.5, 2.25, 3.75, 4.1, and the like) and any range within that range.

Although the foregoing subject matter has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that certain changes and modifications can be practiced within the scope of the appended claims. 

That which is claimed:
 1. A boot accessorizing system comprising a boot insert, wherein the boot insert comprises a leg portion having a top and a bottom, a stirrup operationally attached to the bottom of the leg portion, and a sleeve operationally attached to the top of the leg portion, wherein the sleeve is adapted to be folded over to form a cuff to engage a top of a boot.
 2. The boot accessorizing system of claim 1, wherein the sleeve further comprises at least one fastener attached thereto.
 3. The boot accessorizing system of claim 2, wherein the fastener comprises a snap fastener.
 4. The boot accessorizing system of claim 2, further comprising an assortment of fastenable accessories having a complementary fastener attached to a back thereof and adapted to engage with the at least one fastener of the sleeve.
 5. The boot accessorizing system of claim 4, wherein the assortment of fastenable accessories comprises one or more of a jewelry item, logo, patch, and monogram.
 6. The boot accessorizing system of claim 1, wherein the sleeve further comprises a design comprising one or more of a pattern, one or more letters, one or more words, and a logo.
 7. The boot accessorizing system of claim 1, wherein the sleeve further comprises an expandable joint along a seam along a back portion of the sleeve.
 8. The boot accessorizing system of claim 7, wherein the expandable joint comprises an elastic joint.
 9. The boot accessorizing system of claim 1, wherein the leg portion comprises a formfitting wearable material.
 10. The boot accessorizing system of claim 9, wherein the formfitting wearable material comprises one or more of lightweight lycra spandex fabric, cotton lycra fabric, and lycra stretch fabric.
 11. The boot accessorizing system of claim 1, wherein the stirrup comprises a flexible or expandable strap and is configured to engage around a bottom of a wearer's foot.
 12. The boot accessorizing system of claim 1, wherein the sleeve comprises a boot sleeve accessory comprising a material comprising one or more of leather, faux leather, fur, and faux fur.
 13. The boot accessorizing system of claim 1, further comprising an assortment of pin on accessories adapted to be pinned directly onto the sleeve.
 14. The boot accessorizing system of claim 13, wherein the assortment of pin on accessories comprises one or more of a jewelry item, logo, patch, and monogram.
 15. A method of accessorizing a boot, comprising: a. providing a boot accessorizing system, comprising a boot insert, wherein the boot insert comprises a leg portion having a top and a bottom, a stirrup operationally attached to the bottom of the leg portion, and a sleeve operationally attached to the top of the leg portion, wherein the sleeve is adapted to be folded over to form a cuff to engage a top of a boot; and b. accessorizing the sleeve of the boot insert with one or more accessories.
 16. The method of claim 16, further comprising inserting a user's foot into the boot insert; inserting the user's foot with boot insert thereon into a boot; and folding the sleeve over the top of the boot. 